THE EMPLOYMENT OF FOIiCE LV DYsTnKIA. 527 



more from protracted labour than from powerful traction — and not 

 infrequently their success justities their boldness. 



Donnarieix admits that three assistants are usually suflicient with the 

 Cow — one at the head, another at the tail, and tlie third to aid the 

 operator ; while ten are needed for the Mare — one at the head, another 

 holdinf^ the rope which confines the limbs of the animal and prevents its 

 doing damage, a third to hold the tail, a fourth to assist the operator, 

 and the other five or six to pull at the foetus when necessary. Zundel, 

 however, is of opinion that these numbers are somewhat exaggerated ; 

 very often more than three assistants are required for the Cow, and if 

 more than six are needed for the Mare it is better to have recourse to 

 mechanical means ; as too many assistants hamper the operator, and are 

 often in each other's way, while tlieir united strength cannot be usefully 

 applied. 



The assistants should be strong, and have had some experience in 

 handling animals ; some of them maintain the creature in a favourable 

 position, while the others aid the attempts at extraction, under the 

 orders of the operator. Precautions should be adopted to prevent 

 accidents — especially to the assistants — from the struggles or defensive 

 movements of the animal ; and if the traction is severe, the latter 

 should be supported against it by assistants pressing on the but- 

 tocks, by holding a rope or band against these — or even by placing the 

 hind-quarters against the half-door of the stable. The tractile efforts 

 should be made simultaneously without jerking, in a continued and 

 energetic manner, and always in the direction of the axis of the pelvis 

 — in a straight line behind the animal. The direction of the traction 

 may, however, be a little downward in the anterior presentation, 

 lumbo-sacral position, until the withers have passed through the inlet ; 

 as by this means the top of the withers is depressed, and this part 

 enters the pelvis before the sternum. The operator stands behind the 

 mother, his hands on the sides of the vulva, which he depresses with 

 the cubital border of one hand, while with the back of it he separates 

 the lips, and prevents their being abraded by the cords. It is better 

 to engage only one shoulder of the foetus at a time, if possible ; and 

 when the sternum and one shoulder have been carried into the passage, 

 then the other shoulder is brought forward by directing the assistants 

 to pull a trifle towards the opposite side. By acting in this way with 

 care, and by slow though continued efforts while the parent is straining, 

 delivery will be effected, if this be possible by traction. The operator 

 must not act hurriedly or brusquely, and his hand should carefully 

 attend the advance of the foetus : facilitating its passage, and aiding 

 the progress of the haunches by passing his open hand between them 

 and the maternal pelvis. 



In the posterior presentation, when at least one assistant must be 

 told off to each cord, the traction should be moderate, or even gentle 

 at first, until the operator's hand has adjusted the fa-tus as much as 

 possible. In addition, the latter, besides directing his assistants, must 

 frequently himself guide the traction by the disengaged hand, and 

 personally exert himself in the extraction of the young creature — 

 separating the lips of the vulva, and pressing them towards the pelvis 

 when they are pushed outwards by the advancing foetus ; lubricating 

 the latter and the genital canal when necessary, etc. 



With the smaller animals the operator himself applies the needed 

 force, though an assistant is usually necessary to hold the creature. 



